The Power of the Flywheel: How Kansas Educators Are Building Momentum
The other day, I was sharing a story with a team member about my dad’s tractor collection—a truly impressive lineup, with some machines dating all the way back to the 1920s and 30s. Each tractor had its own quirks and history, but there was one detail that stood out: the flywheel.
If you’ve never heard of a flywheel, it’s a deceptively simple mechanism. Its purpose? To build and maintain momentum. Once the flywheel is spinning, it keeps everything moving with incredible efficiency.
Back then, this simple piece of machinery was the secret sauce that made those tractors so reliable. That got me thinking about momentum—not in tractors, but in education. Specifically, I thought about Kevin Hansford at Kingman-Norwich USD 331.
Kevin’s Flywheel: Building a Data-Driven Culture
When Kevin decided to build a data-driven culture in his district, he started small. He brought together his team and introduced a Professional Learning Community (PLC) model that focused on data.
At first, it wasn’t easy. As anyone in school district leadership knows, creating a new culture takes effort—there’s resistance, growing pains, and a lot of figuring things out as you go.
But Kevin stuck with it. He and his team put in the work to get that flywheel turning. And year after year, momentum started to build. Teachers began seeing the impact that data could have.
They started asking more questions, looking for deeper insights, and using data to make decisions that directly impacted student outcomes. Pretty soon, Kevin realized something amazing: the flywheel was spinning so fast, he couldn’t keep up with the demand for data.
His teachers wanted more—more insights, more tools, more ways to connect the dots—and that’s when he reached out to us at ion to keep the flywheel spinning.
We helped him build the systems his teachers needed to keep that momentum going. And now, the flywheel isn’t just turning. It’s powering real, measurable success across his district.
I'll let Kevin tell you the story himself.
The Power of Shared Momentum
Kevin’s story is inspiring, but the most exciting part? He’s not the only one. The flywheel effect isn’t just happening in Kingman-Norwich—it’s spreading across Kansas.
Today, ion is used in districts representing nearly 20% of students in the state. But this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about something bigger.
At our recent Fusion Conference in Olathe, I saw it firsthand. Here’s what happened:
- The team from Lawrence learned new strategies from El Dorado’s teachers.
- Leaders from Piper worked with Olathe to brainstorm fresh ways to use ion.
- Halstead’s educators connected with El Dorado, gaining clarity and inspiration for their own vision.
What struck me most was the energy in the room. It wasn’t just about technology or data—it was about educators coming together to share ideas, solve problems, and build something bigger than any one district could do alone.
It’s that same flywheel effect. One small push leads to progress, which leads to connection, which leads to even more momentum. And before you know it, you’ve got a statewide community of empowered educators working together to drive outcomes for students.
What Does Momentum Look Like for Your District?
Here’s the thing about momentum: getting started is the hardest part. Push by push, you’re building something bigger than yourself. But once that flywheel gets going, there’s no stopping it.
So, where does your district’s flywheel stand today? If you’re ready to set things in motion—or if you’re already moving and looking for ways to keep the momentum going—we’d love to help.
Let’s start with a quick 15-minute discovery call. No pressure, no expectations—just a conversation about where you are and how we might be able to help you take the next step.
Click here to grab a time that works best for you :https://www.ion-k12.com/demo
Momentum is building across Kansas. A community of educators is growing. And we’d love for you to be part of it.
Let’s get your flywheel spinning.